Sunita Williams Celebrates Thanksgiving in Space with Festive Meal and Parade

NASA astronaut Sunita Williams, currently stationed aboard the International Space Station (ISS), is embracing the Thanksgiving spirit despite the challenges of extended space travel. Williams, who experienced some weight loss due to her prolonged stay following technical delays in the Boeing Starliner, shared her holiday plans in a recent interview with NBC News.

Williams revealed that she and her fellow astronauts—NASA’s Butch Wilmore and SpaceX Crew-9 members Nick Hague and Aleksandr Gorbunov—will start their Thanksgiving celebration by watching the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. The festive mood will continue with a special meal featuring smoked turkey, cranberry sauce, green beans with mushrooms, mashed potatoes, and apple cobbler.

In a video message shared by NASA, the astronauts expressed their gratitude to friends, family, and supporters on Earth. “Happy Thanksgiving to all our friends and family on Earth and everyone supporting us,” said Williams.

NASA provided the ISS crew with a variety of Thanksgiving-themed food, including butternut squash, sardines, and apples, ensuring a taste of home for the astronauts.

Williams and Wilmore, who launched to the ISS aboard the Boeing Starliner in June 2024, were initially scheduled to return after a month. However, technical glitches delayed their return until February 2025, now planned aboard the SpaceX Dragon Freedom spacecraft.

What is Thanksgiving?
Thanksgiving is celebrated annually on the fourth Thursday of November, with Thanksgiving 2024 falling on November 28. It is a national holiday in the U.S. and Canada, marking gratitude for the year’s harvest and blessings.